MANILA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Fierce fighting broke out between security forces and a large group of Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the outskirts of Indanan town in Sulu Sunday morning, a day before the end of Ramadan -- the Muslim's holy month.

    Maj. David Hontiveros, spokesman of the military's Western Mindanao Command, said at a press briefing that one soldier suffered minor injury in the fighting against about 220 terrorists under Albader Parad, Isnilon Hapilon and Dr. Abu.

    Early morning on Sunday, Hontiveros said they were able to fix the location of the terrorists at the vicinity of Sitio Talibang in Barangay Buansa, prompting the deployment of Marine soldiers to try to serve warrants on the three Abu Sayyaf leaders.

    The three are facing a string of cases before the courts, including kidnapping. Specifically, Parad was involved in the abduction of the three workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross, two of them foreigners, in January this year.

    Hontiveros said the soldiers were encircling the terrorists when they were fired upon.

    "We some sort of located their location so we have to take the opportunity to serve the warrants of arrest against these people because they are accused of certain crimes and sadly, they put up a fight so the situation escalated like this," he said.

    "We received info regarding their presence in the area just this morning. We moved to confirm. Once confirmed, we moved to cordon off the area so that the warrant could be served. Unfortunately, they opened fire before the warrant could be brought in," he said.

    Hontiveros said that because of the heavy resistance, the military had to dispatch OV10 bomber planes to provide aerial support from the soldiers. As of 1 p.m., he said the fighting had turned intermittent and that the troops were still maneuvering.

    Asked on the casualties possibly incurred by the terrorists, Hontiveros said: "We have no reports yet of casualties on the Abu Sayyaf and we are hoping that its not going to be bloody because they are also Filipinos. We just wanted to give them the chance to defend their names in court."

    "There is no need for bloodshed, especially at this time," said Hontiveros, noting that Monday is going to be the end of Ramadan --the Muslim's religious month.

    Hontiveros said the incident has nothing to do with Ramadan, noting that criminals would have to face for their crimes regardless of their religion or period.

    "Actually this has nothing to do with Ramadan, this has nothing to do with religion, this has nothing to do with Islam. Basically, these people are accused of committing a crime. They have to answer these accusations in court," said Hontiveros.

    Hontiveros said the military, specially the Western Mindanao Command under Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, has to enforce the law because this is its responsibility to the people. Dolorfino is a Muslim convert himself.

    "It doesn't mean that if you are a Muslim, you cannot be arrested just because it's Ramadan. Islam has nothing to do with this," he said.

    Hontiveros said it was not the military's intention to launch massive operations. "We were hoping for a peaceful negotiation," he said, adding that when the terrorists put up heavy resistance using M14 and M16 rifles and M203 grenade launchers, "we needed touse the appropriate force."

    On whether the Abu Sayyaf terrorists were with members of the Southeast Asian regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah, Hontiveros said they have no specific information on this but saidthe Abu Sayyaf men, with such large grouping, "were probably guarding high-value targets."